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The Living Stage at Hotel RL incorporates authors, artists, musicians, community leaders, local start-up and more. From lectures to performances to hands-on demonstrations, see what is happening next at The Living Stage.

03/24/18 - 6PM - Ron Greene

Hotel RL Olympia

Don’t trade in authenticity for approval is a mantra singer-songwriter Ron Greene holds close to his heart. His journey in faith, and in music, has been about boldly following that inner compass we all have, and getting closer to the truth. His latest album, In Honor Of A Critic, is a celebration of the self—it’s poignant, playful, and chock full of invigorating grooves.

“The title references that, in life, we sometimes try to please other people. The songs on this album are about trying to be the real me—faults and all—this album is the real Ron Greene,” confides the Coeur d’Alene, Idaho -based singer-songwriter. Greene’s distinct aesthetic encompasses radio-ready pop-rock hooks, elements of warmly intimate folk, smoldering funk grooves, and emotive and soulful vocals.

He’s garnered favorable comparisons to Lenny Kravitz, Gary Clark, Jr., Bruno Mars and John Mayer. Greene has issued two well-received studio solo albums and one fiery live album. As an engaging solo performer, and fronting his ace solo band GRE3NE, he’s performed nationally, from New York to the Pacific Northwest. Live career highlights have been performing on the main stage at Choochokam Music Festival, making six consecutive appearances at Spokane Pigout In the Park, and sharing the stage with such diverse artists as Kings X, Rusted Root, PM Dawn, and Paulo Nuttini.

Greene grew up in a church-going family, and had his initial music epiphany seeing a video of Phil Keaggy at a church social event “The next day I learned three guitar chords from my neighbor,” he recalls. His awakening to music coincided with a wonderful spiritual transformation when he began attending his neighbor’s church. Greene learned guitar on the pulpit playing in the church band, and spent time at home honing his skills studying the masters of Christian music as well as the funky sounds of Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson & Prince. From there, his spiritual growth and musical growth dovetailed into one profound life journey that continues to this day.

In Honor Of A Critic is a milestone entry in Greene’s solo catalog. This creative breakthrough coincides with Ron again joining forces with longtime ally Eddie Ramirez. “Eddie, who suggested the album title, is a huge part of this recording, and a huge part of its sound,” Greene says. “How we've worked together is by bouncing idea's off each other, seeing how things jibe, and then going from there.” The songwriting on In Honor of a Critic, which is shared by Ron & Eddie, is mature and well rounded—it explores life, love, and relationships with humor and heartfelt sincerity. The album, guided by Ramirez deft production, is also a natural progression of Greene’s affinity for a more full-band sound, touching upon electric styles such as jazz, funk, R&B, and rock. Vocally, the album also represents a creative breakthrough. With Eddie’s guidance Greene has discovered he has a hidden jewel of a silky falsetto voice, and he does most of his own harmony singing on the album, layering choice vocal melody passages with soaring complimentary vocal lines.

In performance, Greene curates a live experience that whisks people away from their worries and the grinding cycle of daily living.